Separation of bodies of different physical properties



Nov. 17, 1942. 'r. F. DOWNING, JR 3 5 SEPARATION OF BODIES OF DIFFERENT PHYSICAL PROPERTIES Filed June 6, 1941 Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATE SEPARATION OF BODIES OF DIFFERENT PHYSICAL PROPERTIES Thomas F. Downing, J12, Philadelphia, Pa. Application June 6, 1941, Serial No. 396,848 3 Claims. (01. 209:120)

Bodies of different physicalcharacteristics or properties, of which coal and the impurities are examples, have been separated by projecting them in spaced apart relation and in a single plane different distances. at the end of a belt moving fast enough for the purpose. Such methods of separation are described in my PatentsjNos. 2,212,264, Cleaning coal, and 2,212,265, Separation of bodies of different physical properties; In the. case of a. belt moving fast enough to accomplish the purpose above referred to the bodiesor some of them having certain properties orcharacteristics are caused to jump in respect to the face of the belt and in landing on the ;belt are likely to disturb the described arrangementand relation of the bodies of different characteristics or properties riding on the belt and in' that way to disturb the completeness of the final separation; and if some of the bodies jump at the end of the belt their characteristics are such that they must cross the trajectories of other bodies leaving the end of the belt and in that way the completeness of the separation is disturbed.

It is the principal object of the present invention to overcome that defect and disadvantage and to improve the final separation of the bodies.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description at the end of which the invention will be claimed.

Generally stated, the invention consists in mechanically catching the jumping bodies, mechanically tossed from the belt, while in the air and conducting them away from the belt and from the path of other bodies (having different characteristics or properties than the jumping bodies) and riding on or traveling nearer to the belt, or projected from the end of the belt.

The invention also comprises the improvements to be presently described and finally claimed.

In the following description reference will be made to the apparatus diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawing and which is one type of apparatus suitable for the practice of the invention.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic top or plan view;

and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic vertical section illustrating a modification. v

In describing the invention in connection with not intended to limit the invention to the use of that type of apparatus and while the invention is applicable to the separation of bodies having different physical characteristics or properties it will for the sake of clearness, be described in connection with coal containingslate or bone as well as coal itself j the coal is fed by a shaking feeder or chute onto the flat plane surface of the moving belt 2 in such a way that particles (tof, in the present instance coal, and particles of slate or bone I; ride on or close to the face of the belt in a single layer and in spacedapartrelation. At the end of the belt the particles a and b are separated because of their different physical properties or characteristics, such as specific gravity and form, the coal entering the bin.3 and the impurities entering the bin 4. There is atendency for the particles of certain characteristics or properties, for example the coal -a, to jump from the surface of the belt into-the air and in again landing on the belt they disturb the described relative'arrangement of the particles riding on 'or traveling close to the belt and disturb the the apparatus illustrated in the drawing it is 5 final separation of the particles. If the particles jump at the end of the belt in falling they cross the paths of the other bodies leaving the end of the belt in normal fashion and in that way disturb or render less complete the final separation. The receptacles 5 are arranged to vibrate in such a way that they feed any material in or on them laterally of the belt. These receptacles 5 are placed far enough from the belt to allow particles riding on or traveling close to the belt to pass under them without being disturbed. The receptacles are arranged near enough to the face of the belt to catch bodies, as a, jumping from the belt into the air and these bodies caught in the air are fed sidewise by the receptacles away from the belt for subsequent reccvery and use; for example they may be assembled with the particles caught in the bin 3. The receptacles 5 may be provided with upstanding edges 6 which assume different forms and in Figure 3 they are illustrated as having an overhanging portion 6a. In Figure 3 there is also shown at the entrance of the receptacle a beveled edge I.

In some cases the coal and impurities tend to leave the belt or conveyor 2, diagonally or sidewise thereof, and this is true where the coal and impurities leaving the feeder or chute I arrive on thebelt. To oppose this tendency and direct or guide the coal and impurities in line with the travel of the belt use may be made of parallel vertically arranged plates 8 spaced apart and arranged slightly above the face of the belt.

A deflector 9, omitted from Fig. 2, for the sake of clearness, inclined downwards and arranged at the discharge end of the belt or conveyor 2 is, in some cases, useful for directing the particles of coal a, downwards into the bin 3. Such a deflector may be used alone or in association with a receptacle and in that case it guides coal, that does not jump high enough to enter the receptacle, into the bin.

It will be understood that in the practice of the invention the higher jumping bodies or particles are caught in the air and not permitted to again fall on the face of the belt. On the contrary they are led away from the belt and delivered for use.

The location, height above the belt, and number of receptacles used depends upon the kind of materials being separated. They may also change with the sizes of the same material as in coal from the same mines.

The use of the receptacles permits separation by greater belt or conveyor speed, thus widening separation because air friction increases as the square of the velocity.

If desired the elements 5 instead of being shaking chutes may be provided with conveyors moving crosswise of the belt 2.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that modifications may be made in details of procedure and in mere matters of form without departing from the spirit of the invention which is not limited as to such matters.

I claim:

1. In the method of separating bodies of different physical characteristics or properties by projecting them in spaced apart relation and in a single plane difierent distances at the end of a belt moving fast enough for that purpose and fast enough to cause some of the bodies having certain characteristics or properties to be mechanically tossed up in respect to the face of the belt and which if permitted to fall back on the belt would tend to disturb the completeness of the separation, the improvement which consists in mechanically catching the tossed bodies in the air and conducting them away from and crosswise of the path of other bodies having different physical characteristics or properties and riding on or traveling nearer the belt.

2. In the method of separating bodies of different physical characteristics or properties by projecting them in spaced apart relation and in a single plane different distances at the end of a belt moving fast enough for that purpose and fast enough to mechanically toss up some of the bodies having certain characteristics or properties and cause them to jump in respect to the face of the belt and tend to disturb the completeness of the separation, the improvement which consists in mechanically catching the jumping bodies in the air and conducting them away from the path of other bodies having different characteristics or properties.

3. In the method of separating bodies of different physical characteristics or properties by projecting them in spaced apart relation and in a single plane different distances at the end of a belt moving fast enough for that purpose and fast enough to cause some of the bodies having certain characteristics or properties to mechanically and freely jump in respect to the face of the belt and tend to disturb the completeness of the separation, the improvement which consists in guiding the bodies in the direction of travel of the belt and mechanically catching the jumping bodies in the air and conducting them away from and crosswise of the path of other bodies having different physical characteristics or properties and riding or traveling nearer the belt.

THOMAS F. DOWNING, JR. 

